The End of Private Practice?

As the health care system is transformed, hospitals are trying to lure primary care physicians away from private practice, the Washington Post reports this week. With new emphasis on care coordination among health care professionals, hospitals are seeking to take over existing practices or hire away doctors and new graduates to work alongside nurses and specialists.

Reaction among doctors is mixed. A salaried job comes with greater security, and gives physicians access to otherwise costly technologies like electronic medical records. On the other hand, physicians may have less flexibility in the amount of time spent with patients and how they care for them.